Tier one bag is the grab n go with most of the stuff you got there but I also hang a bow & dozen arrows off and a crack barrel air gun inside plus 3
walkies / 7 year batteries. (2 fmrs radios and one standard 40 channel CB walkie just for reaching out)

Tier two bag includes more heavy items in case you "could take one more or had an extra 15 minutes." Includes hunting weapons and longer term
camping gear, longer term power items.

Vehicle bag is a slimmed down tier one bag with enough power for a week and mainly hand crank /whack items, extra tarps and thermal wear.

Eliminates a LOT of worry doesn't it?

I use tier 1 gear regularly camping as well, just to stay practiced and to refresh non perishables.

I know you have a thumb drive with our particulars on it but you should have a CD / DVD burned as well with that + all creative works (if any). CDs &
DVD's are very very waterproof naturally.

You know that CD's are a great idea. It's kind of like a "DUH!" moment.

I also work off of the tier system. I have different bags for different occasions.
the one described is my "living off the land in the event of a catastrophic war bag"
More realistically, I have it broken down into, what can I leave behind if I have to. Education is the key here. Food can be left behind if you know
how to acquire your own food. Learn how to make your own shelters, so you don't have to carry one with you. As you can see, a lot of the items I have
are more or less redundant and or can be used for multiple purposes.
If I had to narrow it down to bare essentials, it would be:

Your list reminded me that I don't have copies of any documents. I'm making copies right now. Thanks for that tip.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned in the numerous threads about bob's (although I may have overlooked it) are the firestarter logs. Not necessarily
the logs but the small bricks of fire starter.

We went camping weekend before last and we took a couple of those and it makes starting a fire so much easier. It says to light the bag but I just
broke a piece off (maybe a third) and went with that. They're only about 6 inches long and maybe a couple of inches wide so, they wouldn't take up
too much room.

I'm proud to say, as a female, I set up the entire camp by myself since my husband had to work late. I packed everything, loaded, unloaded, set up
the tent (easier than I thought it would be), started the fire and settled down to a pretty cozy campsite. Now I know I can do it by myself if it came
down to that.

As for what I have, it doesn't add up to even a quarter of what you have.
I have a family of five and considering what we would all have to pack, I think I have enough for everyone for at least two weeks. I know that's
nowhere near what we need but I'm adding a little bit here and there.

I have all of our camping gear stacked in a corner of my kitchen in boxes for easy access. Everything else we would need is in a tote.

I pray that we'll never have a need for any of it but if we do, it's there.

Thanks again for the tip about copying documents. I'll give you a star just for that.

Just a couple of small considerations after reading your informative posts here, but wouldn't it be a good idea to have a bag for each person in your
group with copies of their documents carried by others? That way if one bag is lost, not everything is gone with it.
Also how about pictures of your family/group members in case you get seperated?

Updated my go bag a few weeks ago, and have been wanting to post a pick.
My documents and whatnot are in the bag, so is a roll of flattened duct tape, 7chemlightsand multi-screwdriver that I forgot to take out of one of the
pockets.
Everything is multi purpose.
I have been tinkering with this for about 6 months.
I have used spares of everything in this bag for everything I can think of, although everything you see here is brand new.

It's a bit heavy, but no more than a backpack of full homework.
I have another lighter bag for the wife and that only has clothes, medication bath tissue, power bars and her documents in it.
What you don't see here is a water bottle(2liter bottle), because anything with a cap on it will do, and I can make a carry harness for it in a
snap.

Don't forget your zip lock baggie crammed to the hilt with dryer lint.
Dryer lint is wonderful for catching a spark. Just be sure to keep it dry.
It weighs virtually nothing. Keep mini lighers in every spare inch of storage space.

I think the bag its self is as important as whats in it. You definitely was want harness straps. I have thought about modifying mine myself. I can sew
and my grandfather has an industrial sewing machine. A good front harness with some pockets in the front wold help to balance the weight. I'm going
to have to do allot of hiking to get to my primary B.O. spot. Last time I was there I was 18 and in far better shape and no pack, and climbing some of
those hills was tiring even then.

i like the idea of a vest/pack that is sort of poncho/sling shaped, i use some vests like that for fly fishing, and it makes hiking, especially
through thick bush rather easy, better balance as stated in the last post...if you go to cabela's and look at some of the fly fishing vest/packs
you'll see what i mean

though the idea of a tactical vest does sound interesting, If I had to choose between that and a good pair of cargo pants, the cargo pants win hands
down every time.
The pants in my pic are exactly those.
Lightweight yet durable. Wearable with sweats underneath.

side note:
I cannot tell you how many times I have found an Altoids tin kit handy.
I get so many comments on it when I produce it for some reason or another.

yeah, i was thinking one that had a medium compartment on the back as well, so it doubled as like a vest/backpack....the idea i have in mind is very
thin, think suspenders, with a chest or waist belt that clips together either on the sides or in the front...with side clips, you can easily unclip
and spin it around to access the back while walking, i do it frequently when walking between fishing holes...cargo pants are good, but i find that the
swaying of said cargo can be troublesome/akward for people who haven't hiked/marched loaded down...

the Altoids tin is exactly what i need...i always have loose crap floating around in my pockets!

Originally posted by calstorm
I think the bag its self is as important as whats in it. You definitely was want harness straps. I have thought about modifying mine myself. I can sew
and my grandfather has an industrial sewing machine. A good front harness with some pockets in the front wold help to balance the weight. I'm going
to have to do allot of hiking to get to my primary B.O. spot. Last time I was there I was 18 and in far better shape and no pack, and climbing some of
those hills was tiring even then.

Excellent point.

My main bergan is a Berghaus Cyclops Crusader, i bought it 19 years ago when i first joined up, it lasted my entire forces career including having all
kinds of crap thrown at it in S. Armagh.

This thing can hold some serious weight, the only think that would restrict that is how much i myself can carry, not what the bag can hold. I've even
carried the kids back from the forest in it when they were tired.

It's not a pack for everyone, but it will outlive me and thats all that matters.

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